Steven Disla is the Instructional Designer for the Center for Nutrition Studies and helped create the latest certificate program which focuses on the nexus between food, the environment, and governmental and economic policy. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville with degrees in Mass Communication and International Studies. Currently he is working on developing a permaculture food forest in North Carolina.

The Hidden Cost of Glyphosate: Milkweed and Monarchs
The Hidden Cost of Glyphosate: Milkweed and Monarchs

Monarch butterflies have long captured the hearts of millions. Their delicate orange-and-black wings, extraordinary migration spanning thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico, and symbolic connection to transformation make them one of nature’s most beloved creatures. Monarchs are more than just insects: they’re a miracle of evolution and a source of wonder. But beneath their … Continued


Toxic Trade-Offs: How Banned Pesticides Still Enter the US Food Supply
Toxic Trade-Offs: How Banned Pesticides Still Enter the US Food Supply

Despite growing scientific consensus around the dangers of certain pesticides, many of these chemicals continue to be produced, used, and consumed around the world—even in countries where they’ve officially been banned. This global dissonance is particularly stark when comparing pesticide regulations in the European Union (EU) and the United States. Relying heavily on the precautionary … Continued


Pesticides—Adapting Chemicals of War
Pesticides—Adapting Chemicals of War

The story of pesticides is not merely one of agricultural innovation; it is also a story of militarism, industrial expansion, ecological upheaval, and a conflicted relationship with the natural world.


Can Organic Farming Feed the World?
Can Organic Farming Feed the World?

In the ongoing debate between conventional and organic farming, it’s commonly believed that conventional agriculture is necessary to meet the growing global demand for food. However, decades of research from the Rodale Institute show that organic farming can not only match but often outperform conventional methods in terms of yield, sustainability, and profitability.


Fish Farming and Aquatic Life
Fish Farming and Aquatic Life

Aquatic ecosystems worldwide are facing severe challenges according to nearly every available metric. Recent reports indicate that shark and stingray populations have been halved since 1970, trends which echo earlier studies showing a 49% decline in fish populations between 1970 and 2012.[1][2] Today, nearly 90% of global marine fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited, or … Continued


Air Pollution and Industrialized Livestock
Air Pollution and Industrialized Livestock

For a long time, we have understood that agriculture is a major contributor to air pollution, but only recently has there been an effort to determine the relative impact of specific foods or diets.


Escaping Agricultural Sacrifice Zones
Escaping Agricultural Sacrifice Zones

Industrial agriculture is turning the entire planet into a sacrifice zone, and we must act now to rectify the environmental impacts of food production.


Can Agriculture Prevent Earth’s Sixth Mass Extinction?
Can Agriculture Prevent Earth’s Sixth Mass Extinction?

The effort to combat the ongoing biodiversity crisis, which has led many to conclude we are currently entering and experiencing Earth’s sixth mass extinction event. Unlike the previous five extinction events, the current one is caused by the activity of a single species—humans.


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